If you don't have a household income of >$300K and/or have family here, why do you live in Westchester? (New York: transplants, apartments)

[Shaolin Shadowboxing]

it seems a struggle for a typical family of 4 to live "well" on a household income of less than $300K

for the most part, many of the commercial/big box store areas of Westchester (White Plains, Port Chester, Central Park Ave) are a disaster of paying to park, traffic and general frustration.

the housing stock and taxes are both atrocious.

the jobs, unless you want to do a daily commute into the rat race that is Manhattan, are few and far between.

so...why?

[pk.1980]

Schools. That's the only reason for me.

[Forest_Hills_Daddy]

Dont forget one can do big box shopping in Palisades mall - i prefer going there than white plains. The housing stock might get better and more aligned with todays realities eventually. For ex, some areas like harrison are redeveloping main streets with newer apartments. Unfortunately these improvements take time. One can also look to northern westchester like Cortlandt, croton, Millbrook etc. where housing is cheaper.

[neil1973]

My opinion (and its only an opinion..)

I like living among successful career-driven people that value education and the arts, and tend to be more liberal minded. I like living in a metro area that also shares these characteristics.

Can I move down south and pay next to nothing in taxes? yes.

But what is that ultimately worth to me.

[ABQConvict]

To put it in perspective, the median Household income for Westchester county is less than $85,000/year.

That still makes it the second wealthiest county, after Manhattan (New York county) in the state.

By the $300,000/year standard, the vast majority of people in Westchester are not only not living "well" they are less they 25% of the 'good living' cutoff.

[rubygreta]

The vast majority of households do not come close to making $300,000. Not everyone cares about a 3,000sf house on one acre. Many are happy in coops, condos, and smaller houses.

And with a $300,000 income, there are actually many northern communities where you can get that 3,000sf house on one acre. Scarsdale and Yorktown Heights might as well be on other planets.

PS - Scarsdale High School has lousy students that go to mediocre colleges. Yorktown HS (and just about every high school) has superstar students that go to the top colleges.

So tired of the myth of the "superior school."

[ANM1982]

What do you mean about living "well"? We make far less than that, yet live comfortably and with no debt.

I echo Neil, plus my husband has a job that requires easy access to Westchester, NYC, and the surrounding counties.

[vladlensky]

'Where do you live' is a relative term, because of course you have the option to rent or buy. The question seemed like it was framed towards buying, but there are many rental options available in Westchester which are competitively priced with other NYC metro areas (NJ, outer boroughs, CT, etc).

We moved because quality of life (nature, peace and quiet, commuting experience, space) was much better than our apartment in NJ/commute from NJ. We both work in Manhattan so need to be close by for that reason. And, as midwestern transplants, the totally urban lifestyle was undesirable, so most of NYC proper was out.

[newnewyorkers]

we live here bc of a combination of elements. Having moved from Texas, I can tell you we enjoy the outdoors more here than there. The schools are great, the job is more challenging, career prospects are better, Europe is closer, the diversity of minds, people and walks of life is nurturing to us and our kids.


We go skiing on a weekend; we go to the beach; we go to the best museums; we go to a play in broadway; we chill by the fireplace; we see deer and, yes, foxes in our backyard; we talk politics with our neighbors! other than uber high taxes, what's not to like??

[hominamad]

Question for the people living here (with kids) comfortably that make less than $300,000: Do you save money? No hidden agenda to this question, I'm legitimately interested.

I feel I make a more than decent salary here, and don't live an extravagant life or live in an extravagant home. I even have relatively low property taxes. But it still feels like a struggle. After putting away a little money for retirement, a little money for two kids' college savings, and a bit in another savings account, the money seems to be gone. And if you want to send your kids to a nice camp or activity over the summer? Have a home improvement project you need to do? Forget it, you're practically done.

Curious how others feel about this.